Reclosable carton



Sheet F. VOKES E A RECLOSABLE CARTON Ap i] 8, 1969 Filed Aug. 28, 1964 Z2 I m w y/w; Mmm Twi M f n z n m my a z w. W1 v u i u Him ml: "\IXW 7L CA.

l/ a M April 8, 1969 vok ET AL 3,436,893

RECLOSABLE CARTON Filed Aug. 28, 1964 sheet ,2 of 2 INVENTORS 29am)?VX9565 Jana/1.3622 zz'rg BY M w {J ATTORNEYS ited States Patent US. Cl.53-21 3 Claims This invention is concerned with a package structure andmethod. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a reclosablepackage structure particularly useful in the paper industry or in anyindustry where packages of material pass from a manufacturer to adistributor and wherein the distributor inserts the labels oridentifying indicia in the package before final sale.

Since the present invention is conveniently described in terms of itsuse in the paper industry, it will be so treated, it being understoodthat its practical application is much more general and the invention isto be so considered.

Sheeted paper may be shipped in two conditions, wrapped or unwrappedwithin a suitable container. In wrapped form, sheet paper ofpredetermined sizes and numerical count may be first wrapped in aprotective cover and thereafter one or more wrapped packages,hereinafter called wrappers, are placed in a protective carton fordelivery. Oftentimes the manufacturer delivers to a distributor, whoidentifies the product by his own labels attached to the end of thewrappers. Thus, the distributor may, in many cases, open the packedcartons to gain access to the wrappers and thereafter the cartons mustbe rescaled. Also sheeted paper may be placed in the containersunwrapped, in which case it is most desirable that the user, generallythe printer, be able to use only a portion of the contents while theremainder is adequately protected by the container.

To date, the cartons in which paper is shipped are usually two-part,i.e., cover and bottom construction, wherein the bottom comprises anopen topped tray and the cover is a similar tray inverted with respectto and telescoped over the sides of the bottom tray. After filling andclosure, the bottom edge of the cover is generally sealed by the liberalapplication of tape to the side walls or bottom panel of the bottomtray. This is necessary to keep dirt out of the carton and further, toprevent any major fiexure or twisting of the complete package and theresulting wrinkling or damage to the product.

Thus, when conventional taped cartons are used and the paper wrappersare to be labeled by a distributor, or when only a portion of thecontents are used, it is necessary for the intermediate party or user tocut apart the bottom tray and the top at the taped seams therebetween,whereby the cover may be completely removed to permit access to the endsof the wrapped product therein. Subsequently, the cartons must bereclosed and rescaled to protect the contents from damage with the netresult that considerable time and trouble is involved and, often wheresubsequent reshipment is involved the tape covers tape at the top-bottomjuncture, resulting in unsightly packages.

Another form of carton structure currently in use utilizes a glue ofhigh shear-low tensile strength characteristics, wherein when the traysare telescoped over one another to form a closed container, the glueadheres the end and side flaps in the usual manner, but upon subjectingthe edges of the flaps to tensile pull, the two trays separate to giveaccess to the cartons interior. Again, however, the top or cover traymust be completely removed to give access to the carton interior andcontents which often results in loss of the cover tray before thecontents are used completely, or alternatively, if the carton is to berescaled, a time consuming retaping job is involved for the distributor.

The present invention, while utilizing a tray top and tray bottom,contemplates a novel method of forming an end structure and a novelclosure system whereby easy initial opening of the carton end isobtained, and wherein when reclosed, the bottom and top are hinged toone another, thus resulting in a package of maximum convenience to theuser of the products therein. In its broad concept then, a first objectof the invention is to produce a carton structure and closing systemwhich is more conveniently used than are the prior art structures.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is to produce a novelresealable carton.

A further object of this invention is to produce a hinged carton havinga reclosable end or side.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a novel method ofclosure for tray-like cartons and covers.

Still an additional object of this invention is to produce a containerhaving a novel end or side structure.

These and other objects of the invention may be accomplished byproviding for final telescopic assembly of a bottom and top traystructure including top and bottom base panels, side and end wall panelsformed integrally therewith, said side wall panels being provided withintegral end flaps, at least one end wall panel of each tray beingprovided with an adhesive wherein these last mentioned panels areadhered to form a hing structure upon final closure of the receptaclewith the top and bottom tray structures in telescopic relation withrespect to one another.

Advantageously, at least one pair of side wall flaps and at least onetray may also be provided with areas of adhesive on their inner faces tofacilitate sealing of said flaps during intermediate use of thereceptacle.

Cartons or receptacles as above defined may be closed by the method offorming the respective blanks into tray structures by folding the sidewall panels into perpendicular relations to the base panels of eachtray, telescoping said side walls with respect to one another, closingone end of the container thus formed with said end walls and said endflaps of each tray with at least two of said closure-defining members,said end walls or said flaps in non-adherent surface-to-surface contact.

Having described the invention broadly, the following detaileddescription will illustrate same, reference being made to the drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of both a tray bottom blank and a tray top blankof the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the method of folding the carton cover tray andbottom tray when the cover is first positioned over the tray;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the carton structure assembled according toFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a disassembled view illustrating the final assembly of thecarton after reclosure;

FIGS. 5 and 5a are views of a modified structure similar in mostrespects to FIGS. 1 and 4; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a slightlymodified structure and a modified method of closure sequenceparticularly applicable where, for example, the width of panels 6 and 26is such that flexure of these panels, even though separated by flaps 12,12' and 34, 34, as in FIG. 2, might cause the registering adhesive areas16 and 36 to inadvertently adhere to one another.

Turning first to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be immediately noted that thebottom and top blanks appear to be conventional folding tray blanks.Such blanks are usually comprised of large bottom and top panels 10 and20, respectively, end wall panels 6 and 8, and 26 and 28, integrallyconnected to these panels for folding about conventional score linesgenerally indicated as 5 from the bottom blank and from the top blank,respectively. Also connected to the top and bottom panels, along scorelines 7 and 27, respectively, are side wall panels or members 2 and 4,and 22 and 24. The top side wall panels 2 and 4 also include end flaps12, 12 and 14, 14 integrally fixed thereto at score lines 9 and 9 and11, 11, respectively, but same being unconnected to the end wall panels6 and 8. Similarly, the bottom side wall panels 22 and 24 of the bottomblank also have integrally affixed thereto fiap members 34, 34 and 36,36', respectively, along fold lines 29 and 29 and 31, 31, respectively.These flap members are also unsecured to the respective end wall panels26 and 28.

It is important to note, however, that contrary to the usual blanks ofthis type, at least one in this case, the end wall 6 of the bottom trayis provided with adhesive area 16, while the corresponding end wall 26of the top blank is also provided with a similarly located adhesive area38, which area is positioned so as to register with the adhesive area 16of the bottom blank when these walls are in telescoped relation, as andfor the purposes to be subsequently described. This adhesive area iscoated with an adhesive having self-adherent properties or heatsensitive properties so that while the coated areas 16 and 38 willadhere to one another, they will not adhere to any other material. Inother words, if these adhesive areas are not in registry and in contact,they will not adhere to any other area of the blank. A self-adheringadhesive of the self-actuating type is shown in US. Patent No.1,936,136. Heat sealing plastics or waxes of the heat actuated type arealso known in the art.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the critical characteristics and position of theadhesive areas will become apparent. Thus, in FIG. 2, the top tray isshown superposed over the bottom tray with each being partially folded.The small arrows and associated numbers indicate the sequence of thefolding operation. First, the side walls 2, 4 and 22, 24 of the traysare folded to their usual position perpendicular to the bottom and toppanels 10 and 20. Then, in closing the end of the bottom tray the endwall 6 is folded into its usual position, as indicated by the arrow 1.Subsequently, the end flaps -12 and 12 are folded into a positionoverlying the previously folded end wall, the latter opening beingindicated by the arrows 2 and 3.

With the top tray telescoped over the bottom tray, the top end flaps 34,34 are first folded inwardly as indicated by the arrows 4 and 5, afterwhich the end wall 26 is folded into superimposed relation with respectto the flaps 34, 34. Thus the two pairs of flaps 34, 34' and 12, 12, aredisposed between the end walls 6 and 26 of the top and bottom trays toprevent the adhesive areas 38 and 16, respectively, from coming intoadherent canta:

As shown in FIG. 3, one or more tape members and/or adhesive spot areas32 (see FIG. 1 for location) may serve to keep this end of the cartonclosed when applied to the member 26.

The opposite end of the carton, while illustrated with a flap andadhesive strip arrangement similar to that described is preferablyclosed in the conventional manner, that is, flaps 14, 14 of the bottomtray are folded first, then end wall 8, while the flaps 3'6, 36' of thetop tray also are folded first, followed by folding of the end wall 28.Too, the flaps 14, 14', and end wall 8 are adhered as by stapling,gluing, etc., to one another while flaps 36, 36' and end wall 28 arealso permanently adhered to one another. Again sealing tape or highshear strength low tensile strength adhesive may effect connection ofthe.

top tray to the bottom tray by extending the tape or adhesive around thetwo side walls and opposite end 8.

The cartons as described and filled with wrappers may then be shipped toa user, such as a distributor. If it is necessary to relabel thewrappers inside the carton, the user opens the end shown in FIG. 3, bymerely breaking tapes 30 and pulling open end wall 26, then flaps 34,34', and 12, 12' of each tray, and finally the bottom tray and wall 6.The ends of the wrappers surrounding the paper sheets are thus easilyaccessible for the placement of labels thereon without the necessity ofcompletely opening the carton or removing these flats from the interiorof the bottom tray to gain access to the ends of the wrapers.

The labelling complete, the end of the carton is reclosed. In so doing,however, reference being made to FIG. 4, a different sequence of foldingsteps is followed. Again referring to the numbered arrows, it will beseen that the end flaps 12, 12 are first folded inwardly against thecontents of the carton as indicated by arrows 1 and 2. Then (arrows 3and 4) the end flaps of the cover tray, namely flaps 34, 34' are foldedinto abutting relation with flaps 12, 12 previously folded. Subsequentlythe end wall 6 of the bottom tray is folded upwardly to abut against andoverlie the folded flaps 34, 34'. As a final step, the end wall panel 26is folded (see arrow 5) down over end wall 6 of the bottom tray,bringing the adhesive areas 16 and 38 into adherent engagement wherebyeffective sealing of the carton is accomplished. Adherent engagement isachieved by applying pressure, as by a hammer blow, to the indicia X.

Now, when the carton reaches the consumer, it is readily opened bycutting the sealing tape or breaking the adhesive on two sides and atthe opposite conventionally closed end with the result that the adheredend walls 26 and 6 serve as hinge members enabling the top cover tray tobe pivoted away from the bottom tray for permitting access to theinterior of the carton.

Still another modification is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 5a. In thisstructure the self-adherent bands 16 and 26 are replaced byself-adherent spots 18 and 128; the former disposed on the outside ofthe end wall 6 and the latter on the inside of the top end wall 26. Inregistry with these spots but on the opposite side of each of these endwalls, there is provided printed indicia such as an X or dot withappropriate notation so that a person closing the container can exertlocalized force, such as a light hammer blow at the indicia areas andthis force will be transmitted directly to the adhesive spots. Theclosing and reclosing procedure would be the same as previouslydescribed in connection with FIGS. 14 inclusive.

Turning now to FIG. 6, a slightly modified arrangement is shown whereina tear strip incorporated in the end wall 26 facilitates tight initialclosure of the package plus easy opening and reclosure. In thismodification the band or dots of self-adherent adhesive 38 is present asusual between score line 25 and the edge of end wall 26. A second bandor localized adhesive areas 44 and 46 is provided at the corners of theend wall 26 as shown. In addition, whereas a self-adherent adhesive isused, the side wall flaps 34, 34 are provided with adhesive coated areas4546. These latter adhesive coated areas will register with areas 44, 46on the end wall, so that when the end of the container is closed, perFIG. 2, the panel 26 will be adhered to the flaps 34 34'. Furthersealing may be affected by tape disposed along the edge of the panel 10of the bottom tray and overlying the lower edge of the end wall 26 ofthe top tray.

If the carton is opened, the tear-strip 40, which is above the adheredareas, is pulled and the remainder of end wall 26 including the band ofadhesive 38 may pivot about score line 25 to permit access to thecontents. On reclosure, the small adhered areas of flaps 34, 34' and endwall 26 are broken; the flaps 34, 34' folded according to FIG. 4 withthe remained of the end wall 26, then adhered to the end wall 6 of thebottom tray when the container is closed. Thus, end walls 26 and 6 againform a hinged connection when the carton is opened for use by severingthe connections between the remaining three sides thereof, as previouslydescribed.

It will be appreciated that in some cases the width of the end walls 26and 6 of the respective top and bottom tray members will be such as torather drastically exceed the combined width of the end flaps 12, 12'and 34, 34'. In such cases it is obvious that even though spaced bythese flaps, that portion of the end wall 26 of the top tray, toward itscenter could easily be flexed into accidental contact with the end Wall6 of the bottom tray. Adherence of the adhesive areas 16 and 38 wouldnaturally result even though undesired. To control this situation, amodification of the structure is contemplated in FIGS. 7 and 8, likeparts bearing the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1. Essentially,this modification comtemplates a slightly different closure sequenceinitially and the addition of bands of adhesive to the side wall flaps34, 34' at 52, 54. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the initial closuresequence followed is to (1 and 2) fold in flaps 12, 12' against thecontents of the carton. Then the top tray end wall 26 is folded (3)against flaps 12, 12. Subsequently the end wall 6 of the bottom tray isfolded (4) against wall 26, after which the flaps 34, 34' are folded (5and 6) against the wall 6 end adhered thereto by the adhesive 52, 54.

It is believed obviou that on labeling the contents the fiaps 34, 34 maybe easily separated from wall 6, the end of the container opened andalso that on reclosure the steps of FIG. 4 are followed to produce ahinged cover container for use by the consumer.

Having thus described the invention it should be noted that whilereference is made to the end wall in the disclosure, it should beunderstood that the invention is equally applicable to a structurewherein the side walls are arranged to provide the reclosable feature.In this case flaps 12, 12, 14, 14' and 34, 34 and 36, 36 would beintegral with the side walls 2, 4, and 22, 24 and unconnected to the endwalls 26, 28 and 6, 8, rather than as shown. Also, the closing sequencewith respect to end walls 26 and 6 could be reversed so long as theflaps 12, 12' and 34, 34' are properly folded.

Having thus described our invention in detail, it will become apparentthat various other changes and modifications will occur to those skilledin the art, such modifications and changes falling within the spirit andscope of the claims, wherein what is claimed is:

1. A system for packaging and enclosing a product to be labelled withinthe package comprising enclosing the product within a carton comprisedof a pair of telescoped tray members having three sides in adheredrelation, forming the closure at said remaining side by means of flapsand end walls forming closure defining members carried respectively byeach tray member, said closure being made initially by folding saidclosure defining members in superposed overlying relation with at leasttwo of said members in surface-to-surface nonadherent contact,thereafter opening said carton by unfolding said closure definingmembers, labelling the product therein and thereafter again closing saidcarton by folding all of said closure defining members with said flapsdisposed interiorly of said carton, said end walls being disposed oneupon the other in face-to-face contacting relation and permanentlyadhering said last-mentioned members to each other.

2. The system defined in claim 1 wherein said lastmentioned step iscarried out by pressing into adherent contact coated areas of aself-adherent adhesive provided on the respective contacting faces ofsaid closure defining members.

3. The system defined in claim 2 including the further step ofreleasably fixed said closure defining members in the relationship setforth prior to the opening and labelling of the contents.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,916,859 12/1959 Klein 53212,932,927 4/1960 Segerstrom et al. 53374 X 3,056,245 10/1962 Boum et al.5324 2,223,770 12/1940 Nagle 93-36 3,01- 8,701 1/ 1962 Keeley 93362,667,297 1/1954 McReary 229-44 2,744,676 5/ 1956 Sealey 22944 3,043,0687/1962 Blonder 532-9 3,120,727 2/1964 Zilox 5329 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE,Primary Examiner. R. L. FARRIS, Assistant Examiner.

Us. 01. X.R.

1. A SYSTEM FOR PACKAGING AND ENCLOOSING A PRODUCT TO BE LABELLED WITHINTHE PACKAGE COMPRISING ENCLOSING THE PRODUCT WITHIN A CARTON COMPRISEDOF A PAIR OF TELESCOPED TRAY MEMBERS HAVING THREE SIDES IN ADHEREDRELATION, FORMING THE CLOSURE AT SAID REMAINING SIDE BY MEANS OF FLAPSAND END WALLS FORMING CLOSURE DEFINING MEMBERS CARRIED RESPECTIVELY BYEACH TRAY MEMBER, SAID CLOSURE BEING MADE INITIALLY BY FOLDING SAIDCLOSURE DEFINING MEMBERS IN SUPERPOSED OVERLYING RELATION WITH AT LEASTTWO OF SAID MEMBERS IN SURFACE-TO-SURFACE NONADHERENT CONTACT,THEREAFTER OPENING SAID CARTON BY UNFOLDING SAID CLOSURE DEFININGMEMBERS, LABELLING THE PRODUCT THEREIN AND THEREAFTER AGAIN CLOSING SAIDCARTON BY FOLDING ALL OF SAID CLOSURE DEFINING MEMBERS WITH SAID FLAPSDISPOSED INTERIORLY OF SAID CARTON, SAID END WALLS BEING DISPOSED ONEUPON THE OTHER IN FACE-TO-FACE CONTACTING RELATION AND PERMANENTLYADHERING SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEMBERS TO EACH OTHER.